2017 MCA Lead Author Outlines Climate Impacts at Community Forums

In a series of local forums hosted by the Red Lodge Forum for Provocative Issues and Stillwater Rising, Dr. Cathy Whitlock presented the key findings of the 2017 Montana Climate Assessment (MCA) to community members in Red Lodge, MT and Columbus, MT. Dr. Whitlock, a professor of earth sciences at Montana State University and lead author on the 2017 MCA, discussed specific impacts that Montanans are likely to see such as earlier peak runoff, increased temperatures, and proliferation of pests and invasive species like cheatgrass. Ultimately, Dr. Whitlock felt that solutions to climate change will be found in efficiencies, technology, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.